Sisters, Sisters

Well the first thing I was going to announce was that ALLISON IS MY TRAINER, WHAT???  But from the emails it seems as everyone already knows :)  But yeah, what the heck?  Isn't that the weirdest/coolest/rarest thing ever?  Thanks for sending me that video, Dad, I'm glad someone got the whole thing!  Yeah I was floored.  Quite literally I guess.

I saw her the previous night cause all the trainers and bleus were staying in the same apartment, and it was actually really weird haha.  But I didn't even sleep the whole night cause I was just so impatient to figure out where we were all going to go and I just had this feeling that we weren't going to be paired up.  It just drove me nuts!  Anyways I opened my letter and my eyes went straight to "S. Hurd," and "Perpignan" and it was just like my mission call--feeling "NO WAY" and "oh yeah, of course" at the same time haha.  Anyways, so that's that!  Little sis is now my trainer!  I don't know if this is in the video, but the coolest part about it was that President Roney said that he didn't just do this just to be fun, but that the Lord was pretty loud about it.  One of the assistants even said he was planning on not putting us together, but after the interview I had with him it became clear that's how it should be.  So there's a reason we're together and I only hope that it we can fulfill that purpose!!

I don't know if Allison has felt the same way, but so far I feel like having a sister as a companion is a huge blessing.  I hate change, and so being away from the familiarities of the MTC and being away from all the friends I made there and in this completely foreign place would normally be a huge adjustment and trial, which I was prepared to deal with.  But having Sister Hurd (yes, we must call each other Soeur and not our first names) with me has smoothed out almost all the kinks in the transition because at least there's a VERY familiar person with me.

Also, she is fluent.  And she has the best accent of all the Americans pretty much.  The first night I talked to her I was like.....who are you?  Anyways, so that is a huge help because I don't understand ANYTHING.  I can catch about 1/20 words.  So generally I can get the gist of conversations but oh man, I struggle.  Ahh!  It's really just the comprehension too, because I can for the most part express a lot of things in French and adequately answer questions, but the second they ask me a question I'm like nahh, sorry, I got nothing.  So I always look over at Allison who translates for me.  I'm working on it though!  I need to learn patience with myself cause I know I'm just going to be so frustrated with it forever. 

So we're in Perpignan and it's so sunny here and palm trees everywhere but it is so deceiving.  The wind here is the worsttt hahah there is absolutely no point in doing one's hair in the morning because it will just end up destroyed.  So we bundle up from head to toe each time we go outside.  The weather also makes it really hard to contact because no one is outside, and if they are, they say it's too cold and walk away.  But yesterday we actually got to teach someone a lesson in the street!  He was a nice guy that seemed pretty interested in what we had to say and perhaps had real potential.  Although Allison later said he said something about converting for us (of course I didn't understand anything) and so maybe he was being nice cause we're girls and we're good at smiling and also Allison....trop classe. 

It was so sad saying goodbye to everyone from the MTC!  We've all gotten so close and it's hard to break apart.  Our teachers were amazing and it was so tender having to say goodbye.  But we won't forget them!  Our last Sunday we sang a French hymn called "Souviens-toi" for everyone in the branch and it was sad but beautiful.  We had to say goodbye to our branch presidency and their wives too, who have been like mothers to us while we've been there.  Never thought it'd be so hard to leave!  We ended up saying goodbye to the Paris elders one too many times because of our flight cancellations and mixups, so we were able to see them again at the airport and ride all the way to Paris with them.  Then it was goodbye all over again when we arrived.  Then goodbye to everyone else staying in Lyon as we were scattered across southern France.  Some went to Montpellier, Carcassone, Avignon, Bordeaux, and lots of other places but I've forgotten already.  But on the positive side, we met so many new missionaries who are all just fantastic.  I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone better. 

So not a lot of missionary work to report on cause we were gone all week, but basically we're going to work hard and contact (ahhhh!!!) and get more amis and ones that will really progress and help all the others that aren't progressing begin to understand the eternal significance of our mission.  I met two of our amis already and I really loved them.  It's awesome to have a sister as a companion because I've been able to read all her letters and so I already know about and love her amis and fellow members!  It's really cool.  So that's a huge plus.  One of my favorite members is a recent convert named Lucie and she is seriously the cutest elderly woman ever.  I had already seen a lot of pictures of her and heard about her from Allison so I knew who she was right away.  Also we had dinner at the bishop's last night and his family is the cutest French family I've ever seen.  Toddlers that speak French....ahh so adorable!!

Shout out to Stephen for turning 14!!  Yay Cutie Steve!!  I love and miss you so much and just giggle everytime I see cute little pics of you!  Speaking of which, mom and dad, remember when Allison asked if you guys would send cute family pics to her?  Ok my turn.  Need to decorate my desk.  Photos of family and friends would be appreciated :)

Allison's birthday is on the 21st and it's her golden birthday too!  We will have to figure out how to party or celebrate somehow.  Also for Valentine's Day...haha maybe we'll spoil ourselves and make Valentine's Day cookies or something. 

I'm sure I forgot a bunch of stuff but oh well.  Here is our mailing address!

12 Lieutenant Pruneta

Perpignan, France
66000

Je vous aime!!
Soeur Hurd

Just arrived in Lyon!

Getting our trainers!